Hey guys!
Today elder Welling and I got money on our cards, so we took the journey down to Ejercito Libertador to charge our bip! cards (the card we use to ride the buses here). While we were waiting in line, a guy was reading the newspaper and seemed to be eyeing us as we walked up.
"Look, you got him!" he exclaimed. We stared at what he was trying to show us in the newspaper. The whole front page had a giant picture of Osama Bin Laden with a headline that read "Osama Bin Laden: DEAD." Wow. he died. they finally got him. As the guy started talking to us about how the Navy Seal team went in and took him out. So much pain. So much agony. all gone in an ignominious death.
It made me think about the other ignominious deaths in the Book of Mormon. Nehor was executed for establishing false doctrines, and introducing priestcraft to the Nephites. Korihor was struck dumb by Alma for denying the Christ and later trampled to death by an angry mob. Zemnarihah was hung from a tree. All of these deaths have something in common: They all die. All of these men were drunk with power, anger, greed, or any of the other astute ways that Satan drags God's children down to hell. Whatever the case be, they believed that they were above the laws and commandments of the Lord. In the end, they all go down the same way.
Like the crazy professor of Ecclesiastes says, everything is vanity. We cant take anything with us. Our power, riches, nothing. The only thing that we take with us is who we have become and what we have learned. If we arent strengthening that constantly, we are not doing anything to further our standing in the presence of God, we can forget adding the three garage door to our celestial mansion.
So far, Elder Welling and I have not gone one week this change without a baptism. I hope I can keep that up so that at the end of the mission, I can say I have put in my hundred percent. We were able to see many happy people who decided to turn their lives around. Matias, especially, has shown that he is willing to follow the will of the lord and not let pride drown out our words, like so many other people in chile have. I am grateful for the transforming power of the gospel and the ability it has to take something broken and make it perfect. It has the power, but only if we are humble enough to let it change who we are.
I'm sorry this email wasn't filled with as many stories, but I felt that it was very relevant to a lot of what the mission is like. Next week I will be sure to just include a bunch of stories about our investigators. Thanks for everything!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Desires and Hopes
Hello Everyone!
I have been thinking recently about desires. Why do we do what we do? Why do we act the way that we do in the situation we are put in? Yesterday we had the opportunity to see Juan Arias baptize his two younger sons after being inactive for years. We came to his door and showed him that the world is filled with possibilities, and that we dont have to be trapped forever to our sins. After helping him recover from his addiction to cigarrettes, he talked to the bishop and set goals. And yesterday, his hard work all paid off. He could see the power that his desires had and the profound effect the gospel has had in his life. Desires are something that can lead us to do great evil, as well as great good. In the case of Hermano Arias, his desire to get his family back together outweighed his desire to smoke. Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a great talk about the power of desire this past conference, and I admit that I am taking a bit from his talk, but I feel that power of desire so much in the mission, that I felt I needed to pay it tribute.
I feel grateful to be a part of that change. I feel that I have been changed because of it. I'm not sure how, but I know that the Lord is looking out for me and is watching everything that we do. I am glad for the opportunity I had to be part of the familia Arias's journey in the gospel. I know that their desire to be an eternal family is what makes mormons different from everyone else. We can be together forever. That hope, that desire, has the power to beat anything that will come. It is the sure foundation that we can look to and know that we are safe. Ironically enough, I believe that faith is the most sure thing that exists in this world. Everything will change, but that hope won't. Being with my family for eternity is one thing that will never change, no matter what happens. That's the greatest desire we can ever hope to have.
Thanks for everything guys, I love you so much!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
I have been thinking recently about desires. Why do we do what we do? Why do we act the way that we do in the situation we are put in? Yesterday we had the opportunity to see Juan Arias baptize his two younger sons after being inactive for years. We came to his door and showed him that the world is filled with possibilities, and that we dont have to be trapped forever to our sins. After helping him recover from his addiction to cigarrettes, he talked to the bishop and set goals. And yesterday, his hard work all paid off. He could see the power that his desires had and the profound effect the gospel has had in his life. Desires are something that can lead us to do great evil, as well as great good. In the case of Hermano Arias, his desire to get his family back together outweighed his desire to smoke. Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a great talk about the power of desire this past conference, and I admit that I am taking a bit from his talk, but I feel that power of desire so much in the mission, that I felt I needed to pay it tribute.
I feel grateful to be a part of that change. I feel that I have been changed because of it. I'm not sure how, but I know that the Lord is looking out for me and is watching everything that we do. I am glad for the opportunity I had to be part of the familia Arias's journey in the gospel. I know that their desire to be an eternal family is what makes mormons different from everyone else. We can be together forever. That hope, that desire, has the power to beat anything that will come. It is the sure foundation that we can look to and know that we are safe. Ironically enough, I believe that faith is the most sure thing that exists in this world. Everything will change, but that hope won't. Being with my family for eternity is one thing that will never change, no matter what happens. That's the greatest desire we can ever hope to have.
Thanks for everything guys, I love you so much!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Lady with the Sopaipilla
In Psychology, we learned about something called the Gestalt Theory. Its main focus centers around the concept that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That you put something together and what you have created is not just the components, but something else entirely. This is what I was thinking about while I was pushing a sopaipilla cart through the streets of Santiago at 10:30 at night.
What had happened was Elder Welling and I, after having gotten back to the pension realized that our lunch for the next day had most likely forgotten, so we ran over to remind them. On the way back, we saw a middle aged woman sitting out in the street with a big tin cart with a little roof that people use to make and sell little fried tortillas, called sopaipillas. We thought it a little bit strange that someone would be selling sopaipillas so late, but it wasnt really abnormal, so we kept walking. Then I heard something in my head say: "She probably needs help." I stop and look at my companion. He had felt the same thing. We come over to the lady and asked her if she needed help. A wave of relief seemed to wash over her face as she explained how she had carried the 150 lb cart from to the metro station, about three fourths of a mile from where we were. She had been pushing the cart for almost three hours. We obligingly helped her out, and asked her where she was going. She explained how she was new to the area and admitted that she really didnt know where she was, but she had to get to Creta, a street three miles away. Compassion flooded my thoughts as I thought how this woman, disoriented and distraught, was going to push this heavy cart all that way.
We pushed the cart as we talked to her, asking her where she was from and if she had a family. She told us that she had two children. Their father left them and they moved in with a relative, but they had no money. She was selling these sopaipillas for about ten cents each, in the hopes that she could support her family. As we pushed, I noticed that everyone was watching us. People passing us on the sidewalk, passengers on the buses, everybody. I was never so proud to wear my plaque, representing the Church. When we finally got to her house, we set up a time to pass by and share a message of hope and joy that has blessed our lives so much. She gracially accepted, and with a smile, said: "Nunca olvidaré de ustedes, los angelitos que me salvaron." I didnt feel that worthy to be called an angel, but as with that poor woman who needed help, I wont ever forget being able to serve someone else, and helping them see the light in the darkness.
Our lives are compsed of actions. Tiny as they may seem, they have enourmous and eternal impacts. That opportunity, as small as it was, made a lasting impact in the life of someone else. What we become through our experiences and our service is much greater than simply the sum of our actions. It is the character defining elements that become part of our very soul and elevate us to be more like our Father in Heaven.
The woman is now listening to the lessons from the elders in her sector, and they tell us that she is progressing well. We are happy for her and for that opportunity to push a little sopaipilla cart through the bustling streets of Chile. The whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts.
Thanks for everything guys! Im really excited to see you all soon! If you need anything or have any questions, let me know!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
What had happened was Elder Welling and I, after having gotten back to the pension realized that our lunch for the next day had most likely forgotten, so we ran over to remind them. On the way back, we saw a middle aged woman sitting out in the street with a big tin cart with a little roof that people use to make and sell little fried tortillas, called sopaipillas. We thought it a little bit strange that someone would be selling sopaipillas so late, but it wasnt really abnormal, so we kept walking. Then I heard something in my head say: "She probably needs help." I stop and look at my companion. He had felt the same thing. We come over to the lady and asked her if she needed help. A wave of relief seemed to wash over her face as she explained how she had carried the 150 lb cart from to the metro station, about three fourths of a mile from where we were. She had been pushing the cart for almost three hours. We obligingly helped her out, and asked her where she was going. She explained how she was new to the area and admitted that she really didnt know where she was, but she had to get to Creta, a street three miles away. Compassion flooded my thoughts as I thought how this woman, disoriented and distraught, was going to push this heavy cart all that way.
We pushed the cart as we talked to her, asking her where she was from and if she had a family. She told us that she had two children. Their father left them and they moved in with a relative, but they had no money. She was selling these sopaipillas for about ten cents each, in the hopes that she could support her family. As we pushed, I noticed that everyone was watching us. People passing us on the sidewalk, passengers on the buses, everybody. I was never so proud to wear my plaque, representing the Church. When we finally got to her house, we set up a time to pass by and share a message of hope and joy that has blessed our lives so much. She gracially accepted, and with a smile, said: "Nunca olvidaré de ustedes, los angelitos que me salvaron." I didnt feel that worthy to be called an angel, but as with that poor woman who needed help, I wont ever forget being able to serve someone else, and helping them see the light in the darkness.
Our lives are compsed of actions. Tiny as they may seem, they have enourmous and eternal impacts. That opportunity, as small as it was, made a lasting impact in the life of someone else. What we become through our experiences and our service is much greater than simply the sum of our actions. It is the character defining elements that become part of our very soul and elevate us to be more like our Father in Heaven.
The woman is now listening to the lessons from the elders in her sector, and they tell us that she is progressing well. We are happy for her and for that opportunity to push a little sopaipilla cart through the bustling streets of Chile. The whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts.
Thanks for everything guys! Im really excited to see you all soon! If you need anything or have any questions, let me know!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, March 28, 2011
Countdown
Hey Everybody!
Things in Gabriela are going really well as always. We are getting really close to getting our goal of new investigators! We are trying to just push things through so that we can make it!
Well, I officially have three months left on the mission. But that does not mean that things have slowed down at all. We have 11 baptismal dates in our sector alone. Matias and Nicolas both have fechas for the 10 of april. We had the baptisms of Luciano and Shirley last week. They really are one of the most prepared couples I have had the honor of meeting. Luciano is so smart and knows so much, even though he is only 11 years old. His mom, Shirley gave a powerful testimony after her baptism, and really left an impression on me about the power of the work that we are doing.
At the beginning of my mission, I had a hard time loving the people I served. They were rude, inconsiderate, and would always make fun of us, or tell us to go home. I had a hard time loving the people, so I used the love I had for God to transmit it towards his children. Now as I have matured in the mission I have learned that the love I had for God came only from the gratitude I felt when I read all the things he has done for me in the scriptures and in my prayers. But I have never known him personally. So the love was at some extent limited. What I realized that if we want to increase our love for god, we must serve his children. I came to know God because I came to know his creations. I came to truly love God because I came to truly love his children. There are families here that I will never forget, mainly the family Gonzalez, Baeza, and Salas. Service is the key. Love, and love is returned. Serve, and you will be served.
I love this work, and everything I am able to do in it. Thank you for all of your prayers and the letters. I love getting Andi's letters. Even though they are short and sometimes pointless, it shows a level of care that I still hope to attain. Thanks, weirdo.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Things in Gabriela are going really well as always. We are getting really close to getting our goal of new investigators! We are trying to just push things through so that we can make it!
Well, I officially have three months left on the mission. But that does not mean that things have slowed down at all. We have 11 baptismal dates in our sector alone. Matias and Nicolas both have fechas for the 10 of april. We had the baptisms of Luciano and Shirley last week. They really are one of the most prepared couples I have had the honor of meeting. Luciano is so smart and knows so much, even though he is only 11 years old. His mom, Shirley gave a powerful testimony after her baptism, and really left an impression on me about the power of the work that we are doing.
At the beginning of my mission, I had a hard time loving the people I served. They were rude, inconsiderate, and would always make fun of us, or tell us to go home. I had a hard time loving the people, so I used the love I had for God to transmit it towards his children. Now as I have matured in the mission I have learned that the love I had for God came only from the gratitude I felt when I read all the things he has done for me in the scriptures and in my prayers. But I have never known him personally. So the love was at some extent limited. What I realized that if we want to increase our love for god, we must serve his children. I came to know God because I came to know his creations. I came to truly love God because I came to truly love his children. There are families here that I will never forget, mainly the family Gonzalez, Baeza, and Salas. Service is the key. Love, and love is returned. Serve, and you will be served.
I love this work, and everything I am able to do in it. Thank you for all of your prayers and the letters. I love getting Andi's letters. Even though they are short and sometimes pointless, it shows a level of care that I still hope to attain. Thanks, weirdo.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, March 21, 2011
Ripples
Hey guys!
All is well here in Gabriela! We are running around everywhere here in the sector trying to find the news [investigators that will accept baptismal invitation] that we are going to baptize next month. The thing is that we have a goal as a mission. 1469 news in one month! Thats pretty high! Our goal as a zone is 145. Its pretty ambicious, especially for a zone like ours, which is kind of tough. As a zone leader, it is an added pressure because you dont just answer for your dats, but the dats of the entire zone. Its a lot of pressure sometimes, but we just have to keep pushing forward and try to do the best we can. Last week we found 9 news, and hopefully all of them will soon have baptisimal dates this next week.
We taught one family Sunday night: Gustavo. We got into the house and started talking with the family. After a little while, we found out that both the mom and the dad are members, but they are super inactive. The mom thinks that she is Evangelica now. We taught the family and showed them the restauration video. They liked it, but didnt seem to change their views on much. The daughters, however, were pretty impressed. Carol and Nicole. They are the ripple.
Everyone is a drop of water. We act every second of every day. Each of those actions gets placed into the logs of history forever as an action that we have taken. This action can have various consequences, and we are in someway partialy responsible for those consequences. We sneeze and someone gets sick. We help someone take up some groceries and it makes their day better. Every action has this effect, a ripple, we could say, that travels in an out of the lives of those it affects. Nicole and Carol are a consequence of a ripple that their parents started. Now they can choose to act on it, or let it pass over them. In the end, its their choice. We just want them to understand the importance of this drop of water that is their lives so they step carefully, because every step is going to show.
I have learned a great deal on the mission. But one of the greatest lessons I have learned is that it continues on. Life is learning. Learn well and act accordingly and the effect we create will be a marker for others to follow. In the end, it is to matter. To make a difference because you have lived.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and for those who havent as well. I love you guys a lot!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
All is well here in Gabriela! We are running around everywhere here in the sector trying to find the news [investigators that will accept baptismal invitation] that we are going to baptize next month. The thing is that we have a goal as a mission. 1469 news in one month! Thats pretty high! Our goal as a zone is 145. Its pretty ambicious, especially for a zone like ours, which is kind of tough. As a zone leader, it is an added pressure because you dont just answer for your dats, but the dats of the entire zone. Its a lot of pressure sometimes, but we just have to keep pushing forward and try to do the best we can. Last week we found 9 news, and hopefully all of them will soon have baptisimal dates this next week.
We taught one family Sunday night: Gustavo. We got into the house and started talking with the family. After a little while, we found out that both the mom and the dad are members, but they are super inactive. The mom thinks that she is Evangelica now. We taught the family and showed them the restauration video. They liked it, but didnt seem to change their views on much. The daughters, however, were pretty impressed. Carol and Nicole. They are the ripple.
Everyone is a drop of water. We act every second of every day. Each of those actions gets placed into the logs of history forever as an action that we have taken. This action can have various consequences, and we are in someway partialy responsible for those consequences. We sneeze and someone gets sick. We help someone take up some groceries and it makes their day better. Every action has this effect, a ripple, we could say, that travels in an out of the lives of those it affects. Nicole and Carol are a consequence of a ripple that their parents started. Now they can choose to act on it, or let it pass over them. In the end, its their choice. We just want them to understand the importance of this drop of water that is their lives so they step carefully, because every step is going to show.
I have learned a great deal on the mission. But one of the greatest lessons I have learned is that it continues on. Life is learning. Learn well and act accordingly and the effect we create will be a marker for others to follow. In the end, it is to matter. To make a difference because you have lived.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and for those who havent as well. I love you guys a lot!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Weekly Update...updated weekly
Hey Everybody!
Things here are going great! Today we went up to San José de Maipo with Matias, someone who just got back from his mission a few months ago. It was a lot of fun! We ran across a rickety bridge and went through a really spooky, and smelly, tunnel. It was pretty cool to be able to just relax for one P-day and not have to worry about whats going on with this person or someone else because honestly, we really dont have anyone to teach. See? always a bright side to things!
As scary as it is to think about it, the time is drawing nearer and nearer till I finish my mission. There have been about 5 million things Ive learned and keep learning. To summarize everything would be very difficult, even though I am going to have to try and do just that when I get back. But I feel like to summarize it all to one sound byte: "Do it, do it well, never regret, love it". I will definitely have to work on that one, but that pretty much sums it all up. I'm going to come back home a completely different person, but I guess that's okay. Sorry mom, I still might be too relaxed for your tastes. But now I at least get the job done and get it done well. Probably something I would have learned in sports that I had to learn on the mission.
Sorry that the emails are kind of small. There really isn't a whole lot to say when your sector is tiny and you've been knocking all day with little to no success. Planting seeds. That's all we're doing. Planting seeds. Thanks for everything guys! Let me know if you have questions about anything.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Things here are going great! Today we went up to San José de Maipo with Matias, someone who just got back from his mission a few months ago. It was a lot of fun! We ran across a rickety bridge and went through a really spooky, and smelly, tunnel. It was pretty cool to be able to just relax for one P-day and not have to worry about whats going on with this person or someone else because honestly, we really dont have anyone to teach. See? always a bright side to things!
As scary as it is to think about it, the time is drawing nearer and nearer till I finish my mission. There have been about 5 million things Ive learned and keep learning. To summarize everything would be very difficult, even though I am going to have to try and do just that when I get back. But I feel like to summarize it all to one sound byte: "Do it, do it well, never regret, love it". I will definitely have to work on that one, but that pretty much sums it all up. I'm going to come back home a completely different person, but I guess that's okay. Sorry mom, I still might be too relaxed for your tastes. But now I at least get the job done and get it done well. Probably something I would have learned in sports that I had to learn on the mission.
Sorry that the emails are kind of small. There really isn't a whole lot to say when your sector is tiny and you've been knocking all day with little to no success. Planting seeds. That's all we're doing. Planting seeds. Thanks for everything guys! Let me know if you have questions about anything.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, February 28, 2011
Walking and Knocking
Hey everybody!
Well things here in Gabriela are chugging along. Its difficult though. We dont have any investigators and the ward is very small, so its out in the streets and knocking. I feel like a pioneer in a sense. Little missionaries knocked as they walked and walked and walked and walked aaaand walked. Its hard work but somebody has to do it and I feel like I am taking a lot out of it as well. The difficulty always has rewards. I feel very blessed to be able to be here in a time where I can grow up with my investigators.
Being a zone leader has been a lot different than I thought it would be. I really dont feel like its a whole lot different from being anywhere else. I feel just like a normal missionary, but for some reason everyone thinks that you know what to do. I feel like I am just doing what I need to do to stay under the radar, but for some reason, there are always people who need our help.
I have four months left in the mission. I am officialy old. I really hope to just keep going and push through as hard as I can for this last stride of the mission. Thanks for everything that you guys are doing for me!
les amo!
Elder Westover
Well things here in Gabriela are chugging along. Its difficult though. We dont have any investigators and the ward is very small, so its out in the streets and knocking. I feel like a pioneer in a sense. Little missionaries knocked as they walked and walked and walked and walked aaaand walked. Its hard work but somebody has to do it and I feel like I am taking a lot out of it as well. The difficulty always has rewards. I feel very blessed to be able to be here in a time where I can grow up with my investigators.
Being a zone leader has been a lot different than I thought it would be. I really dont feel like its a whole lot different from being anywhere else. I feel just like a normal missionary, but for some reason everyone thinks that you know what to do. I feel like I am just doing what I need to do to stay under the radar, but for some reason, there are always people who need our help.
I have four months left in the mission. I am officialy old. I really hope to just keep going and push through as hard as I can for this last stride of the mission. Thanks for everything that you guys are doing for me!
les amo!
Elder Westover
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